Agriculture

Wed
03
Feb

Poll shows farmers’ beliefs on climate change are shifting

Climate change is impacting Iowa agriculture and negative impacts are expected to increasingly threaten agricultural productivity in the state. There are many ways, however, that farmers and landowners can increase the resiliency of production systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and even capture carbon.

The 2020 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll survey explored farmers’ perspectives on climate change and ways that farmers can address its impacts on agriculture. The project is supported by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station.

“We’ve asked questions about climate change three times over the last decade, so we can now look at changes in perspectives over time,” said project director J. Arbuckle, professor and extension sociologist at Iowa State University.

Wed
27
Jan

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
February 12: CRP Signup
March 5: Quality Loss Adjustment
March 15: 2021 ARCPLC Signup

They’re Not All Bad!
by Alisha Sedlmayr
You can’t see them with the naked eye, but there are hundreds of them in a healthy handful of soil and the majority of them are actually beneficial to plants. We’re going to be talking about nematodes! You may think of root-feeding nematodes, which can kill plants or harm them, but they are not all deadly to your crops. In fact, the other types of nematodes (beneficial ones) actually cycle nutrients for plants, control plant pests, and help improve soil health.

Wed
27
Jan

Suicide Prevention Program still available virtually to producers and agribusiness

Iowa’s rural communities and families are still coping with the uncertainty and stress produced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial worries continue to contribute to farmers’ anxiety.

In response to this continuing impact, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach is offering weekly, online “Question. Persuade. Refer.” programs now through February, said Demi Johnson, behavioral health program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

“Question. Persuade. Refer.” (QPR) is a suicide prevention program that teaches participants three steps to help save a life from suicide.

“Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help,” Johnson explained.

Wed
27
Jan

Karst Topography of Upper Iowa Watershed is focus of Water Quality Field Day held virtually

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Conservation Learning Group, is hosting a free virtual field day on the challenges of improving water quality and quantity management in the karst topography of the Upper Iowa Watershed Thursday, February 4 at 1 p.m. CST.

Presenters include Matt Frana, Upper Iowa Watershed project coordinator, and Winneshiek County landowners Tom and Maren Beard.

“The karst topography in northeast Iowa creates some unique challenges when planning for water detention project sites,” said Frana. “Shallow depth to bedrock, easily dissolvable bedrock, highly fractured bedrock and sinkholes can become problematic if water is pooled above or near them.”

Karst terrain is characterized by the presence of easily dissolved bedrock (limestone and dolomite) near the ground surface, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Wed
20
Jan

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
February 12: CRP Signup
March 5: Quality Loss Adjustment
March 15: 2021 ARCPLC Signup

USDA to Open General Signup for the Conservation Reserve Program in January 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the signup periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in 2021. Signup for general CRP will be open from Jan. 4, 2021, to Feb. 12, 2021. This program is competitive and provides annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.

Wed
20
Jan

Virtual Farm Bill Meeting Series planned for 2021

Iowa producers have until March 15, 2021 to make their annual election for Price Loss Coverage or Agriculture Risk Coverage (at the individual and county levels) under the 2018 Farm Bill.

This annual decision is unlike the previous farm bill, when producers made a one-time decision for their operation that was in place for the life of the bill.

Webinars planned. In order to help Iowans understand their options for 2021, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering a series of webinars. The lead webinar was held January 19 at 1 p.m., and featured staff from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency addressing program logistics, changes for 2021, and how producers can best work with their county FSA staff and offices that may remain closed to the public through the sign-up date.

Wed
20
Jan

Virtual Dairy Day to feature profitable practices

Dairy producers and the industry will have the opportunity to learn about emerging dairy industry issues during Virtual Dairy Day, hosted by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy team. The program is scheduled for Tuesday, February. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“Producers and industry partners will have a chance to hear about current and relevant information to help them make sound management decisions.” said Jennifer Bentley, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “This workshop is traditionally in-person for farmers to network and share ideas. Due to COVID-19 concerns, this will be a virtual workshop to network and ask questions.”

The agenda includes:

Wed
13
Jan

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
March 15: 2021 ARCPLC Signup

Healthy Soil should be our New Year’s Goal
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist
I would like to reflect on some observations of where agriculture is in 2020 as we prepare to launch into 2021.  I have a quote from Gus Speth, Co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council, on my wall.  He says, “I used to think that top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change.  I thought that thirty years of good science could address these problems. I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy, and to deal with these we need a cultural and spiritual transformation. And we scientists don’t know how to do that.”

Wed
13
Jan

Climate expert to discuss drought and other potential challenges for 2021

Climate and weather predictions are topics of webinar

Livestock producers and agribusiness professionals are invited to a webinar discussing climate and weather predictions for the 2021 growing season. The webinar, set for Wednesday, Jan. 20, from noon to 1 p.m., features Dennis Todey, director of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Climate Hub in Ames.

Beth Doran, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, said Todey will bring accurate and important information for those who work with livestock and crop production agriculture.

“Dennis Todey is known nationally for his knowledge and experience in weather forecasting and comes with distinction as the former president of the American Association of State Climatologists,” Doran said. “This is a timely presentation, given that currently more than half of Iowa is experiencing drought conditions ranging from abnormally dry to severe drought.”

Wed
13
Jan

What is the Miscanthus value for Iowa farmers?

Webinar will explore the opportunities and challenges of miscanthus

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Conservation Learning Group, is hosting a free wetland virtual field day on growing miscanthus in Iowa on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m.

Join for a live conversation with Emily Heaton, Iowa State University agronomy professor and extension biomass crop specialist.

Miscanthus has received widespread attention as a biomass crop for bioenergy in Europe, while bedding and bioproduct markets are developing faster than energy markets in the U.S.

Heaton’s team is exploring what it takes to successfully grow miscanthus in Iowa and measuring the impact on soil health and water quality. The team is also exploring converting areas of fields that produce low corn and soybean yields to miscanthus for improved long-term profitability.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Agriculture